Vehicle Disablement System

ABSTRACT

This disclosure describes a vehicle disablement system which includes one or more sensors capable of detecting a vehicle, and one or more vehicle disablement mechanisms. According to embodiments, the one or more sensors are capable of sending a communication to and activating the one or more vehicle disablement mechanisms upon detecting a suspect or target vehicle to disable the suspect or target vehicle. Also described is a method of disabling a suspect or target vehicle, which includes detecting a suspect or target vehicle by way of one or more sensors and sending a communication to and activating one or more vehicle disablement mechanisms to disable the suspect or target vehicle. Further, a vehicle disablement mechanism is also described. The system and method can be used in applications such as counterterrorism, security, and law enforcement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to the fields ofcounterterrorism, security, and law enforcement. More particularly, thepresent invention relates to systems and methods which are capable ofdetecting a suspect, target, or otherwise unauthorized vehicle anddisabling the vehicle.

Description of Related Art

Al Qaeda's Yemeni branch encouraged its Western recruits to use trucksas weapons. A 2010 webzine article, “The Ultimate Mowing Machine” calledfor deploying a pickup truck as a “moving machine not to mow grass butmow down the enemies of Allah.” In September 2014, ISIS spokesman AbuMohammad al-Adnani called for lone wolf attacks using improvisedweaponry, “If you are not able to find an IED or a bullet, then singleout the disbelieving American, Frenchman or any of their allies. Smashhis head with a rock or slaughter him with a knife or run him over withyour car or throw him down from a high place or choke him or poisonhim.”

Unfortunately, some, mostly lone wolfs in Europe and the US, have heededthese calls of Al Qaeda and ISIS. Vehicle attacks have occurred on Mar.3, 2016 in Chapel Hill, N.C. USA, Jul. 14, 2016 in Nice, France, Dec.19, 2016 in Berlin, Germany, Apr. 7, 2017 in Stockholm, Sweden, Jun. 3,2017 in London, Aug. 17, 2017 in Barcelona, Spain, and most recentlyOct. 31, 2017 in New York City. In each of these vehicle attacks an SUVor truck traveling at a high rate of speed was utilized as a weapon tokill and maim multiple innocent civilians.

There is a pressing need for a vehicle disablement system which can stopthese cruel attacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention include a vehicle disablement system whichincludes one or more sensors capable of detecting a vehicle and one ormore vehicle disablement mechanisms. According to embodiments, the oneor more sensors are capable of sending a communication to and activatingthe one or more vehicle disablement mechanisms upon detecting a suspectvehicle to disable the suspect (e.g., target) vehicle. In certainembodiments a single sensor strip can be utilized. In other embodimentstwo sensor strips or more are utilized. The sensor strip(s) can belocated on top of the outer exposed surface of the road, path or trailsurface. The sensor strip(s) can be located under the outer exposedsurface of the road, path or trail.

Embodiments of the invention also include a method of disabling asuspect or target vehicle, which includes detecting a suspect or targetvehicle by way of one or more sensors and sending a communication to andactivating one or more vehicle disablement mechanisms to disable thesuspect or target vehicle.

Embodiments of the invention also include a vehicle disablementmechanism which includes a trench, a trench cover secured by one or moreremovable pins, and one or more actuators operably connected to the oneor more removable pins. The one or more actuators are capable ofactivation by one or more sensors and are capable of removing theremovable pins from the trench cover upon activation. In someembodiments, the trench cover is hinged.

These and additional embodiments will be elaborated upon in theforegoing Detailed Description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate certain aspects of embodiments ofthe present invention, and should not be used to limit the invention.Together with the written description the drawings serve to explaincertain principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a drawing showing features of a vehicle disablement systemaccording to an embodiment, including a camera and sensor strips.

FIG. 2 is a drawing showing features of a vehicle disablement systemaccording to an embodiment, including sensor strips.

FIG. 3 is a drawing showing features of a vehicle disablement systemaccording to an embodiment, including a camera.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are drawings showing features of a vehicle disablementsystem according to an embodiment, including a camera (FIG. 4A) and atire puncture disablement mechanism (FIG. 4B).

FIG. 5 is a drawing showing features of a vehicle disablement systemaccording to an embodiment, including posts that elevate out of theground.

FIGS. 6-10 are drawings showing features of a vehicle disablement systemaccording to an embodiment, including a trench disablement featuredisguised as a drainage cover.

FIG. 11 is a drawing showing a trench disablement feature in detailaccording to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 12 is a drawing showing a wheel of a suspect or target vehicle.

FIG. 13 is a drawing showing a wheel of a suspect or target vehicletrapped within a trench having a free-falling trench cover according toan embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 14 is a drawing showing a wheel of a suspect or target vehicletrapped within a trench having a hinged trench cover according to anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 15 is a drawing showing features of a vehicle disablement systemaccording to an embodiment, including an acoustic alert feature in abike lane.

FIG. 16 is a drawing showing features of a vehicle disablement systemaccording to an embodiment, including an acoustic alert feature in aroad shoulder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to various exemplary embodiments ofthe invention. It is to be understood that the following discussion ofexemplary embodiments is not intended as a limitation on the invention.Rather, the following discussion is provided to give the reader a moredetailed understanding of certain aspects and features of the invention.

Embodiments of the invention provide a system capable of detecting anddisabling a suspect or target vehicle traveling within a pedestrianarea, especially a pedestrian area which largely or solely is off limitsto motorized vehicular traffic. By way of example only, vehicle attackshave targeted the pedestrian walking lanes on each side of the roadwayon London Bridge in London, England, the Promenade des Anglais in Nice,France, and a bike path in New York City, USA.

In a first embodiment, the vehicle terror disablement system includessensors capable of detecting weight and speed. In addition, the systemof this first embodiment further includes one or more disablementmechanism(s), such as one or more tire piercing spikes, trench ortrenches with a moveable or removable cover, disabling explosives, metalposts that rise out of the ground (for example, by way of actuators), ora vehicle electronic system shutdown. In one aspect of a sensorimplementation, two distance-separated sensor strips are provided. Inembodiments, the distance can be anywhere from above 0 feet, such asfrom 1 foot to 50 feet, including 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20,25, 30, 35, 40, 45, or 50 feet, or any range encompassing these values.A first sensor strip is either laid on the surface of the road, buriedunder the pavement (or road surface), or embedded within a sectional cutof the pavement (or road surface.) This first sensor strip is capable ofsensing the weight of the vehicle, and if the vehicle reaches or exceedsa predetermined weight, the sensor is capable of activating the vehicledisablement system. The second sensor strip is capable of determiningwhen the vehicle passes over it. The first sensor strip and secondsensor strip together with a computer processor are then capable ofrapidly determining the speed of the vehicle due to the elapsed timebetween activation of the first sensor strip and the second sensorstrip. In a situation where the first sensor strip determines that thevehicle is of a predetermined weight that triggers an alert or actionand the two sensor strips determine that the vehicle is traveling at arate of speed that also triggers an alert or action, a vehicledisablement feature is activated.

In a first embodiment, the vehicle disablement feature is a coveredtrench having a trench size deep and wide enough for the wheels of avehicle to fall into when the cover is mechanically removed, allowingfor an open trench. The sensor strips are placed at a distance in frontof the trench to provide for sufficient time for the vehicle to triggerthe sensors strips, while not permitting the vehicle to stop before itsfront wheels fall into the trench. When the disablement feature isactivated, the trench cover is mechanically moved or removed upon bothsensor strips being activated. The sensors are capable of wirelesslycommunicating with the disablement feature, thus activating it. Thefirst embodiment can additionally include an alarm system that can beactivated by the system warning pedestrians to move to a safer area.

In a second embodiment, the vehicle disablement system includes sensorscapable of detecting weight, speed and image recognition and/orartificial intelligence. In addition, the system of this secondembodiment further includes disablement mechanism(s) in the form of tirepiercing spikes, one or more trenches with a moveable or removablecover, disabling explosives, metal posts that rise out of the ground, ora vehicle electronic system shutdown. A preferred case using this secondembodiment comprises two distance separated sensor strips. In one aspectof a sensor implementation, two distance-separated sensor strips areprovided. In embodiments, the distance can be anywhere from above 0feet, such as from 1 foot to 50 feet, including 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, or 50 feet, or any range encompassingthese values. A first sensor strip is either laid on the surface of theroad, buried under the pavement (or road surface), or embedded within asectional cut of the pavement (or road surface.) This first sensor stripis capable of sensing the weight of the vehicle, and if the vehicleexceeds a predetermined weight, the sensor is capable of activating thevehicle disablement mechanism of the system. The second sensor strip iscapable of determining when the vehicle passes over it. The first sensorstrip and second sensor strip together with a computer processor arethen capable of rapidly determining the speed of the vehicle due to theelapsed time between the first sensor strip and the second sensor strip.In a situation in which the first sensor strip determines that thevehicle is of a predetermined weight that triggers an alert or actionand the two sensor strips determines that the vehicle is traveling at arate of speed that also triggers an alert or action, a camera which islocated between the second sensor strip and the disablement feature isthen activated to capture an image of the vehicle. Through imagerecognition and/or artificial intelligence technologies known in the art(such as image recognition algorithms) the system quickly will confirmthat in fact it is a vehicle which needs to be disabled. Together, theweight sensor, speed determination, and image recognition confirm thatthe vehicle should be disabled, and a signal is sent to the system'sdisablement mechanism. This embodiment can also include an alarm systemthat can be activated by the system warning pedestrians to move to asafer area.

A third embodiment of a vehicle disablement system includes sensorscapable of detecting weight, speed and image recognition and/orartificial intelligence as described in previous embodiments as well asdisablement mechanism(s) such as tire piercing spikes, one or moretrenches with a moveable or removable cover, disabling explosives, metalposts that rise out of the ground, or vehicle electronic systemshutdown. According to the third embodiment, one sensor strip isimplemented on the surface of the road, buried under the pavement (orroad surface), or embedded within a sectional cut of the pavement (orroad surface). This sensor strip is capable of sensing the weight of thevehicle, and if the vehicle is of a certain predetermined weight orexceeds this predetermined weight, the sensor strip can activate thevehicle disablement mechanism. This sensor strip can also be capable ofdetermining when the vehicle's first and second axles of wheels passesover it, and together with a processor, this sensor can then rapidlydetermine the speed of the vehicle due to the elapsed time between whenit is activated by the first axle of wheels and the second axle ofwheels. In a situation in which the sensor strip determines that thevehicle is of a predetermined weight and also determines that thevehicle is traveling at a rate of speed equal to or greater than apredetermined speed, the sensor strip activates a camera which islocated between the first sensor strip and the disablement feature. Thecamera is activated to capture an image of the suspect or target vehicleand through image recognition and/or artificial intelligence the systemcan confirm that in fact it is a vehicle which needs to be disabled.Together, the weight sensor, speed determination, and image recognitionconfirm that the vehicle should be disabled, and a signal is sent to thesystem's disablement mechanism. The third embodiment also can include analarm system that can be activated by the system warning pedestrians tomove to a safer area.

A fourth embodiment of the vehicle disablement system includes a cameraand image recognition and/or artificial intelligence, as well asdisablement mechanism(s) in the form of one or more tire piercingspikes, trench or trenches with a moveable or removable cover, disablingexplosives, metal posts that rise out of the ground, or vehicleelectronic system shutdown as described in previous embodiments. In thisembodiment, the system includes a camera which is capable of beingactivated to capture an image of the suspect or target vehicle and,through the use of image recognition and artificial intelligence thesystem quickly will confirm that in fact the suspect or target vehicleis a vehicle which needs to be disabled. The camera can be positionedabove the ground, within the ground, on the ground, above the pavement,within the pavement, or on the pavement. When above ground or pavementthe camera can be located on any conventional object, such as a lightpole, sign, building, fence, or bench. The camera is positioned farenough in front of the system disablement feature to capture the image,utilize image recognition and/or artificial intelligence and to have thetime to activate the system's vehicle disablement mechanism. Inembodiments, the distance between the camera and the disablementmechanism is anywhere from above 0 feet, such as from 5 feet to 100feet, including 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75,80, 85, 90, or 95 feet, or any range encompassing these values. In thisembodiment, the camera is capable of determining if the suspect ortarget vehicle is in fact a vehicle and further the rate of speed thatthe vehicle is traveling. In a situation in which the suspect or targetvehicle is confirmed to be a suspect or target vehicle and its rate ofspeed exceeds or meets a certain predetermined rate of speed, thesystem's disablement mechanism is activated. The fourth embodiment canalso include an alarm system that can be activated by the system warningpedestrians to move to a safer area.

According to embodiments, the predetermined rate of speed whichactivates the sensor(s) or processor(s) to send a signal to the vehicledisablement mechanism(s) is in the range of above 0 to 125 mph,including 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100,105, 110, 115, 120 mph or more, or any range encompassing these values.Further, according to embodiments, the predetermined weight which causesa signal to be sent to the vehicle disablement mechanism(s) is 0.1 to 50tons, including 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0,2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 8.5, 9.0,9.5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, or 45 tons, or any range encompassingthese values.

In the embodiments, when the system's disablement mechanism is that of avehicle electronic system shutdown, the vehicle must have been fitted orretrofitted with such a remote wireless disablement feature. Such afeature can be mandated by law by a governmental body. Further, thesensor strips described herein can include, by way of example only, asingle sensor, multiple sensors, a strip having one sensor, a striphaving multiple sensors, a powered conductive strip which powers thesensors, energy harvesting (such as solar panels) and/or battery thatpowers one sensor or multiple sensors or the sensor strip. While apreferred embodiment disclosed herein teaches multiple strips of sensorsit is entirely possible and also preferred to have one or more of asingle sensor strip, a single sensor or single image capture sensor.

According to embodiments, the vehicle disablement system utilizes one ormore disablement mechanisms such as, by way of example only, a trench,spikes, and/or metal posts that rise out of the ground. The pedestrianroute, by way of example only, can be a trail, path, road, side walk,bike path, corridor whereby such a disablement feature is located and ismarked in such a way that it causes pedestrians to be herded through asafe zone that crosses over or around the disablement mechanism. Such asafe zone can allow for pedestrians to pass safely, but will not permita suspect or target vehicle to pass safely. The safe zone can bedesigned in such a way to have a width wide enough for a pedestrian (s)to pass but narrow enough such that a vehicle cannot pass over itwithout one or both of its wheels triggering a sensor and thus if atargeted vehicle, then triggering the disablement system.

According to one embodiment, the vehicle disablement mechanism is thatof a covered trench. The trench is wide enough and deep enough to allowfor the wheels of the vehicle to fall into the trench. The cover of thetrench is supported by retractable pins or rods that hold the coverabove the trench. Upon activation by the vehicle disablement system, therods retract causing the cover to fall from a position at the top of thetrench to a lower position, such as at the bottom of the trench. Incertain embodiments, the timing of when the rods are retracted is timedrelative to the speed of the suspect or target vehicle. In this way, thedriver of the vehicle cannot avoid having one or more of its wheels fallwithin the trench. The pedestrian safe zone can be located in the middleof the trench or to the far right or far left of the trench. Thematerial which the cover is made of as well as that of rods can be ofany material providing the needed strength and corrosive resistivity,such as steel. The retraction of the rods can be by any suitablemechanical means which in most cases is motorized, such as an actuator.

In another embodiment the vehicle disablement feature is that of acovered trench. The trench is wide enough and deep enough to allow forthe wheels of the vehicle to fall into the trench. The cover of thetrench is supported by retractable rods that hold the cover above thetrench. In this embodiment, the cover is hinged on one side such thatupon activation by the vehicle disablement system the rods retractcausing the cover to open up and fall into the trench while still hingedon one side. In certain embodiments, retraction of the rods is timedrelative to the speed of the suspect or target vehicle. In this way, itis impossible for the driver of the vehicle to avoid having one or moreof its wheels fall within the trench. The pedestrian safe zone can belocated in the middle of the trench or to the far right or far left ofthe trench. The material which the cover is made of as well as that ofrods can be of any material providing the needed strength and corrosiveresistivity, such as steel. The retraction of the rods can be by anysuitable mechanical means which in most cases is motorized, such as anactuator.

In another embodiment of the invention, a bike path is protected by wayof an acoustic or vibration detection alert system that makes noise orvibratory pattern when a tire passes over it. This keeps the bike pathseparate from that of the vehicle road way. Vehicles that have beenfitted or retrofitted with a vehicle electronic system disablementfeature have a sensor and sensors that can detect the acoustic orvibratory alert. This will then activate the vehicle electronic systemshutdown and cause the vehicle to come to a halt.

In still another embodiment, a driver who is falling asleep at the wheelis protected by way of an acoustic or vibration detection alert systemthat makes noise or vibratory pattern when a tire passes over it nearthe side of the roadway. Vehicles that have been fitted or retrofittedwith a vehicle electronic system disablement feature have a sensor andsensors that can detect the acoustic or vibratory alert. This will thenactivate the vehicle electronic system shutdown and/or cause the vehicleto come to a halt and/or cause one or more of actions such as activationof the vehicle's horn or radio system to sound an alarm, or lights thevehicle to flash or blink.

According to embodiments, the sensor(s) utilized in the vehicledisablement system include one or more of pressure sensors, photosensors, image sensors, IR sensors, light sensors, vibration sensors,acoustic sensors, vibration pulse radar sensors, LiDAR sensors, COsensors, CO2 sensors, or thermal sensors. In embodiments, the system iscapable of communicating wirelessly or in a wired manner when activatingthe disablement feature or features. The system can also activate analarm, which can be a sound emitting alarm, a light emitting alarm, orboth a sound emitting and light emitting alarm. Further, the system cancommunicate wirelessly to a remote security office or to remote securitypersonnel. The system can communicate wirelessly to a remotecommunication platform. Further, the system can communicate wirelesslyto or receive communications from a remote computing device such as byway of example only, a smart phone, walkie-talkie, tablet, laptop,computer, augmented reality system, or mixed reality system. Throughthese devices, the system may be programmable such that various weightand/or speed triggers can be entered by an administrator for the system.Further, the system can utilize one sensor or multiple sensors (whichcan be the same or different sensors). The wireless communication can beby way of Bluetooth or WiFi.

According to some embodiments, the vehicle disablement system includesone or more processors which process data from the sensors of the systemand/or send activation signals to the vehicle disablement mechanism(s)of the system (in other embodiments, the sensors send activation signalsto the vehicle disablement mechanism(s) directly). The processor(s) canbe located near the sensor(s), near the vehicle disablementmechanism(s), or offsite. Further, some embodiments include one or morealgorithms programmed in computer readable code (also referred to hereinas computer executable instructions) which instruct the one or moreprocessors to perform the steps of the algorithm. The one or morealgorithms utilize data from the sensors as an input and can produce anoutput such as rate of speed and/or acceleration or image recognition.When such rate calculation and/or when such image recognition results ina determination that the vehicle is a suspect or target vehicle, the oneor more processors can then send an activation signal to the vehicledisablement mechanism(s) of the system.

The computer executable instructions may be stored on a non-transitorycomputer readable storage medium such as RAM which stores theinstructions (software) for instructing the processors to carry out anyof the methods described in this disclosure. As used in the context ofthis specification, a “non-transitory computer-readable medium (ormedia)” may include any kind of computer memory, including magneticstorage media, optical storage media, nonvolatile memory storage media,and volatile memory. Non-limiting examples of non-transitorycomputer-readable storage media include floppy disks, magnetic tape,conventional hard disks, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, BLU-RAY, Flash ROM, memorycards, optical drives, solid state drives, flash drives, erasableprogrammable read only memory (EPROM), electrically erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EEPROM), non-volatile ROM, and RAM. Thenon-transitory computer readable media can include a set ofcomputer-executable instructions for providing an operating system aswell as a set of computer-executable instructions, or software, forimplementing the methods of the invention. The computer-readableinstructions can be programmed in any suitable programming language,including JavaScript, C, C#, C++, Java, Python, Perl, Ruby, Swift,Visual Basic, and Objective C.

According to embodiments, the system is powered by nearby power lines orother infrastructure supporting the electrical grid (such as athree-phase power grid). In other embodiments, the system is powered byenergy harvesting such as solar panels, wind turbines, and the like. Insome embodiments, the system is powered by a battery used alone or inconjunction with electrical, solar, or wind power.

According to embodiments, the unauthorized vehicle can be that of a car,truck SUV, bus, tractor, crane, or construction vehicle such as, by wayof example only, a bulldozer. The unauthorized vehicle can be powered bya gas engine, diesel engine, electric engine, or hybrid engine. Further,the vehicle disablement system can be retrofit to the pedestrian routebeing protected or the vehicle disablement system can be incorporatedwith the pedestrian route being protected when the route is firstdesigned and built.

The following figures serve to illustrate various embodiments providedin the previous discussion and should not be construed as limiting theinvention. FIG. 1 shows features of a vehicle disablement systemembodiment including a pair of sensor strips placed on top of a road. Inthis embodiment, a camera 110 is placed in the median of the road andfaces an area in the road between the two sensor strips 120. FIG. 2shows an embodiment in which three sensor strips 220 are placed on topof a road and FIG. 3 shows placement of a camera 310 on a lighting polein the vicinity of a road. As previously provided in this disclosure,any suitable arrangement of sensors for detecting a suspect or targetvehicle is contemplated.

Together, the sensors can communicate with various vehicle disablementfeatures to activate them to stop a suspect vehicle. FIGS. 4A and 4Btogether show an embodiment in which when a camera 410 detects a suspector target vehicle, the camera wirelessly communicates with and activatesa tire puncture disablement mechanism 430 placed in the road.

Variations of vehicle disablement mechanisms are shown in FIGS. 5-16. Asprovided previously in this disclosure, the vehicle disablementmechanism can include posts 540 which elevate or extend out of theground (FIG. 5), or a trench disablement mechanism disguised as a draincover 650, 750, 850, 950, 1050 (FIGS. 6-10).

An embodiment of such a trench disablement mechanism 1150 is shown indetail in FIG. 11. Trench disablement mechanism 1150 includes metalplate trench cover 1152 placed between paved areas 1153 of road. Belowground 1154, a trench 1155 is disposed below trench cover 1152. Aretractable pin or rod 1156 is used to hold metal plate trench cover1152 in place. Not shown in the figure is a mechanism for retracting theretractable pins/rods 1156, which may be a motor, actuator, or the like.

FIG. 12 illustrates a wheel 1260 of suspect or target vehicle. As shownin FIG. 13, the wheel 1360 of the suspect or target vehicle is trappedby trench disablement mechanism 1350 when the trench cover collapses.FIG. 14 shows another embodiment of a trench disablement mechanism 1470in which the trench has a hinged trench cover. As shown, the wheel 1460of the target suspect vehicle is trapped when the metal trench covercollapses.

FIGS. 15 and 16 show embodiments of an acoustic alert which activates anacoustic sensor equipped within the vehicle. In FIG. 15, the acousticsensor 1580 triggers a vehicle electronic system shutdown when thevehicle enters a bike lane 1590. In FIG. 16, the acoustic sensor 1680triggers a vehicle electronic system shutdown when the vehicle goes outof the lane on to the side of the road.

The present invention has been described with reference to particularembodiments having various features. In light of the disclosure providedabove, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the practice of the presentinvention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.For example, the present system is not limited to preventing terrorattacks, and can be used in any other application in which it isdesirable to identify and disable a suspect or target vehicle (such asfor law enforcement, for example). One skilled in the art will recognizethat the disclosed features may be used singularly, in any combination,or omitted based on the requirements and specifications of a givenapplication or design. When an embodiment refers to “comprising” certainfeatures, it is to be understood that the embodiments can alternatively“consist of” or “consist essentially of” any one or more of thefeatures. Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practiceof the invention.

It is noted in particular that where a range of values is provided inthis specification, each value between the upper and lower limits ofthat range is also specifically disclosed. The upper and lower limits ofthese smaller ranges may independently be included or excluded in therange as well. The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include pluralreferents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. It is intendedthat the specification and examples be considered as exemplary in natureand that variations that do not depart from the essence of the inventionfall within the scope of the invention. Further, all of the referencescited in this disclosure are each individually incorporated by referenceherein in their entireties and as such are intended to provide anefficient way of supplementing the enabling disclosure of this inventionas well as provide background detailing the level of ordinary skill inthe art.

1. A vehicle disablement system, comprising: one or more sensors capableof detecting a targeted vehicle to be disabled, wherein the one or moresensors are located on top of an exposed surface on which the targetedvehicle could drive; and one or more vehicle disablement mechanismscapable of disabling the targeted vehicle; wherein the one or moresensors are capable of sending a communication to activate the one ormore vehicle disablement mechanisms upon detecting the targeted vehicle;and wherein the one or more vehicle disablement mechanisms is removal ofa cover of a trench.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or moresensors include one or more sensor for determining weight of thevehicle.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more sensorsinclude one or more sensor for determining speed of the vehicle.
 4. Thesystem of claim 3, wherein the weight and the speed of the vehicle areused to determine whether the vehicle is a target vehicle to bedisabled.
 5. (canceled)
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the one ormore sensors comprise a pressure sensor, a photo sensor, an imagesensor, an IR sensor, a light sensor, a vibration sensor, an acousticsensor, a vibration pulse radar sensor, a LiDAR sensor, a CO sensor, CO2sensor, or a thermal sensor, or any combination of these.
 7. The systemof claim 1, further comprising a computer processor, wherein the one ormore sensors are in communication with the computer processor.
 8. Thesystem of claim 7, further comprising one or more algorithms stored on anon-transitory computer readable storage medium for detecting whetherthe vehicle is a target vehicle to be disabled.
 9. The system of claim8, wherein: the one or more algorithms comprise one or more patternrecognition algorithms; the one or more sensors comprise one or moreimage sensors; and the computer processor is capable of processing datafrom the one or more image sensors by way of the one or more patternrecognition algorithms to determine whether the vehicle is a targetvehicle to be disabled.
 10. The system of claim 8, wherein: the one ormore algorithms comprise one or more speed calculating algorithms; theone or more sensors comprise one or more pressure sensors or imagesensors; the computer processor is capable of processing data from theone or more pressure sensors and/or one or more image sensors by way ofthe one or more speed calculating algorithms to determine whether thevehicle is a target vehicle to be disabled.
 11. A method of disabling atarget vehicle, comprising: detecting a target vehicle by way of one ormore sensors; and sending a communication to and activating one or morevehicle disablement mechanisms to disable the target vehicle.
 12. Thesystem of claim 11, wherein the one or more sensors include one or moresensor for determining weight of the target vehicle.
 13. The system ofclaim 12, wherein the one or more sensors include one or more sensor fordetermining speed of the target vehicle.
 14. The system of claim 13,wherein the weight and the speed of the target vehicle are used todetermine whether the target vehicle is to be disabled.
 15. The methodof claim 11, wherein the one or more vehicle disablement mechanismscomprise tire piercing spikes, a trench with a removable cover,disabling explosives, metal posts that rise out of the ground, or avehicle electronic system shutdown, or any combination of these.
 16. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a pressuresensor, a photo sensor, an image sensor, an IR sensor, a light sensor, avibration sensor, an acoustic sensor, a vibration pulse radar sensor, aLiDAR sensor, a CO sensor, CO2 sensor, or a thermal sensor, or anycombination of these.
 17. The method of claim 11, wherein the one ormore sensors comprise one or more image sensors, and the method furthercomprises recognition of the target vehicle by: sending data from theone or more image sensors to a computer processor; and processing thedata by the computer processor by way of one or more image recognitionalgorithms to result in recognition of the target vehicle as a vehiclethat is to be disabled.
 18. The method of claim 11, wherein the one ormore sensors comprise one or more pressure sensors or image sensors, andthe method further comprises calculating the rate of speed of the targetvehicle by: sending data from the one or more pressure sensors or imagesensors to a processor; and processing the data by the computerprocessor by way of one or more speed calculating algorithms to resultin calculation of the rate of speed of the target vehicle.
 19. A vehicledisablement mechanism, comprising: a trench; a trench cover secured byone or more removable pins; and one or more actuators operably connectedto the one or more removable pins; wherein the one or more actuators arecapable of activation by one or more sensors and are capable of removingthe removable pins from the trench cover upon activation.
 20. Thevehicle disablement mechanism of claim 19, wherein the trench covercomprises a hinge.
 21. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or morevehicle disablement mechanisms is the removal of the cover of the trenchand the removal of the cover is timed.
 22. A vehicle disablement systemcomprising: a sensor for determining weight of a vehicle, a sensor fordetermining speed of a vehicle, an algorithm for determining if thevehicle is a target vehicle, and a vehicle disablement mechanism,wherein the vehicle disablement mechanism is a covered trench that isuncovered or posts that rise from the ground.
 23. The system of claim 1,wherein the one or more sensors comprise one or more sensor strips,wherein the one or more sensor strips are located before the one or morevehicle disablement mechanisms, wherein the one or more sensor stripsare capable of being located above a surface that can be driven on, andwherein the system is capable of determining when to activate the one ormore vehicle disablement mechanisms so that the targeted vehicle cannotstop before reaching the one or more vehicle disablement mechanisms. 24.A vehicle disablement system, comprising: one or more sensors capable ofdetecting a targeted vehicle to be disabled, wherein the one or moresensors are located on top of an exposed driving surface; and one ormore vehicle disablement mechanisms capable of disabling the targetedvehicle; wherein the one or more sensors are capable of sending acommunication to activate the one or more vehicle disablement mechanismsupon detecting the targeted vehicle; and wherein the one or more vehicledisablement mechanisms are tire piercing spikes, disabling explosives,metal posts that rise out of the ground, or a vehicle electronic systemshutdown, or any combination of these.
 25. The system of claim 1,wherein the one or more sensors are located in or on one or more strips.26. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors are locatedin or on two distance separated strips.
 27. The system of claim 1,wherein the activation of the one or more vehicle disablement mechanismsis determined by two or more of the one or more sensors.
 28. The systemof claim 1, wherein the trench is capable of disabling one or morewheels of the targeted vehicle.
 29. The system of claim 1, wherein thecommunication includes wireless communication.
 30. The system of claim1, wherein energy powering the system is harvested by solar cells.